A Woodland Hills woman on trial for the murder of her pornographer husband testified Wednesday that a Mafia enforcer had threatened to kill the man shortly before he was gunned down on a Northridge street. Testifying in her own defense, Sharon Snyder, 41, also scoffed at the accusation that she had hired co-defendant Victor Diaz to murder her husband, sex video producer Theodore J. Snyder.

A man who admitted killing a Woodland Hills sex-video producer was sentenced Wednesday to 17 years to life in prison as part of a plea bargain with prosecutors. Victor Diaz, 47, admitted in San Fernando Superior Court last month that he fired the shots that killed pornographer Theodore J. Snyder on a Northridge street Aug. 1, 1989. He testified for the prosecution in the first-degree murder trial of the dead man's widow, Sharon Snyder, 41.

Casting aside earlier theories of a Mafia-style execution, authorities said Tuesday they believe that the wife of slain pornographer Theodore J. Snyder, a flamboyant figure who produced dozens of sex videotapes in the early 1980s, had her husband killed by a hired man. Sharon Snyder, 39, of Woodland Hills and Victor Diaz, 47, were charged in San Fernando Municipal Court with first-degree murder in connection with Snyder's slaying on Aug. 1.

A Woodland Hills woman on trial for the murder of her pornographer husband testified Wednesday that a Mafia enforcer had threatened to kill the man shortly before he was gunned down on a Northridge street. Testifying in her own defense, Sharon Snyder, 41, also scoffed at the accusation that she had hired co-defendant Victor Diaz to murder her husband, sex video producer Theodore J. Snyder.

A prosecution witness stunned a San Fernando courtroom Wednesday by claiming that a Woodland Hills woman on trial for hiring him to kill her pornographer husband wrote a letter from jail admitting her role in the slaying. Victor Diaz, 47, who previously acknowledged that he killed flamboyant sex video producer Theodore J. Snyder two years ago, said he gave his attorney the letter from defendant Sharon Snyder, 41. Superior Court Judge Malcolm H.

Discarding theories of a Mafia execution, authorities now believe that slain pornographer Theodore J. Snyder, a flamboyant figure whose video company churned out dozens of money-making sex videotapes in the early 1980s, was killed by a social acquaintance hired by his wife. Sharon Snyder, 39, of Woodland Hills, and Victor Diaz, 47, were charged in San Fernando Municipal Court with first-degree murder for allegedly killing Snyder on Aug. 1.

A man who admitted killing a Woodland Hills sex-video producer was sentenced Wednesday to 17 years to life in prison as part of a plea bargain with prosecutors. Victor Diaz, 47, admitted in San Fernando Superior Court last month that he fired the shots that killed pornographer Theodore J. Snyder on a Northridge street Aug. 1, 1989. He testified for the prosecution in the first-degree murder trial of the dead man's widow, Sharon Snyder, 41.

Less than a month after pornographer Theodore J. Snyder died in a burst of submachine-gun fire, his widow sold her husband's rare coins and jewelry for $43,000, according to testimony Tuesday at a preliminary hearing for the widow and an alleged hired killer. The alleged gunman went to a Simi Valley bank shortly after the killing to change a rare $10,000 bill that authorities said belonged to Snyder, the bank's manager testified.

A San Fernando Superior Court judge on Thursday ordered a handwriting analysis to determine the authenticity of a letter in which a Woodland Hills woman on trial for murder purportedly admits her role in the machine-gun slaying of her pornographer husband. The existence of the letter, which came to light unexpectedly on Wednesday, would greatly aid the prosecution if it is authenticated, but could give a boost to the defense if it proves to be a fraud.

A San Fernando Superior Court judge on Thursday ordered a handwriting analysis to determine the authenticity of a letter in which a Woodland Hills woman on trial for murder purportedly admits her role in the machine-gun slaying of her pornographer husband. The existence of the letter, which came to light unexpectedly on Wednesday, would greatly aid the prosecution if it is authenticated, but could give a boost to the defense if it proves to be a fraud.

A prosecution witness stunned a San Fernando courtroom Wednesday by claiming that a Woodland Hills woman on trial for hiring him to kill her pornographer husband wrote a letter from jail admitting her role in the slaying. Victor Diaz, 47, who previously acknowledged that he killed flamboyant sex video producer Theodore J. Snyder two years ago, said he gave his attorney the letter from defendant Sharon Snyder, 41. Superior Court Judge Malcolm H.

Less than a month after pornographer Theodore J. Snyder died in a burst of submachine-gun fire, his widow sold her husband's rare coins and jewelry for $43,000, according to testimony Tuesday at a preliminary hearing for the widow and an alleged hired killer. The alleged gunman went to a Simi Valley bank shortly after the killing to change a rare $10,000 bill that authorities said belonged to Snyder, the bank's manager testified.

Discarding theories of a Mafia execution, authorities now believe that slain pornographer Theodore J. Snyder, a flamboyant figure whose video company churned out dozens of money-making sex videotapes in the early 1980s, was killed by a social acquaintance hired by his wife. Sharon Snyder, 39, of Woodland Hills, and Victor Diaz, 47, were charged in San Fernando Municipal Court with first-degree murder for allegedly killing Snyder on Aug. 1.

Casting aside earlier theories of a Mafia-style execution, authorities said Tuesday they believe that the wife of slain pornographer Theodore J. Snyder, a flamboyant figure who produced dozens of sex videotapes in the early 1980s, had her husband killed by a hired man. Sharon Snyder, 39, of Woodland Hills and Victor Diaz, 47, were charged in San Fernando Municipal Court with first-degree murder in connection with Snyder's slaying on Aug. 1.

The Federal Election Commission today certified Gary Hart eligible to receive federal matching funds for his revived campaign for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination. That clears the way for Hart's campaign to receive $100,000 early next week from the U.S. Treasury, commission spokeswoman Sharon Snyder said.

Paper-work problems stalled Jesse Jackson's bid for federal matching funds today, threatening to keep the Democratic hopeful off the ballot in the second presidential primary of 1988. Jackson's aides said he will win approval from the Federal Election Commission for matching funds. "It's not going to be today," said FEC spokeswoman Sharon Snyder of the possibility of fast action on Jackson's request.